Termly Reflection 

Four Square. It’s a bit like a version of hand tennis, but played between 4 children at any one time.  And it’s played with any ball near at hand. Two things stand out in a game of Four Square. Firstly, you are guaranteed to hear laughter from the children playing, and secondly, there is a definite rhythm to the bounce of the ball as it is palmed between squares … it’s a bit like the steady heartbeat of a long-distance athlete, one imagines. Four Square really is worth a watch – see you near the chess-board?

Speaking of heartbeat, this has been a term of ‘heart’. We’ve hosted our ‘old’ Old Boys (pupils prior to 1970), and were so grateful to share in their stories and adventures. Mr Tim Stubbs presented the school with the well-preserved remnants of an Anglo-Boer War era rifle which he found in the stream in 1956… there has been an unsurprisingly renewed vigour in further explorations of the stream as a result of Mr Stubbs story! It was also with great pleasure that we welcomed our Grade 7s of 2019 back for a dinner, a bit of a reminisce and a ‘catch up’. Part of the evening involved digging into their Grade 7 Time Capsule box, and reading letters from their Grade 7 selves to their Grade 12 self. A good trip down Memory Lane before the pressures of Grade 12 final exams and the excitement of life after school become a reality. It’s when one hears of past pupils, irrespective of their vintage, reflecting on their Clifton journey with fondness, some calling it the happiest times of their lives, that a sense of reflection naturally arises. Why is it so special to us? What makes it a happy place? Perhaps it begins with laughter…

There have been a wide variety of special moments this term, from community work during Mandela Day, donning traditional garb to celebrate Heritage Day, or having the whole school getting stuck into planting the trees that represent the beginning of our 100-year plan during Arbor Week. There were some firsts, too, one of them being the Junior Primary Inter House Fort Building challenge, following in the footsteps of the SP Inter House Fort Building competition.

Marble Season has signaled the end of Winter (there is no truth to the rumour that some teachers may have lost their marbles ages ago!), and Bobsledding has taken a bit of a back seat… the Nottingham Road mizzle (misty drizzle) has seen Bobsleigh Hill greening up a bit; it’s just not as quick now. 

While Inter House Athletics may have been a little more competitive than Marble Season, with Trojans emerging victorious, the fields have continued to ring out with laughter and happy noises. Our sports programme has been a vibrant one, with soccer and hockey festivals and fixtures dotted all over the calendar, from the juniors right the way to our Grade 7s. It’s been a busy term for the children, and not without its share of challenges, but they are sure to reflect on all they have achieved with pride.

Sports aside, a Senior Primary hike to Grindstone Cave, a special ‘Tents and Torches’ evening for our littlies (as well as a Grade 0 ‘Jumping for Joy’ Day), a Junior Primary isiZulu Day, Spring Day (and our annual Spring Ball for the snappily-dressed Senior Primary) have provided much opportunity and enrichment for our children. The Grade 7s had an exceptional tour to Tuli Wilderness in Botswana at the start of the term and are now gearing up for their production of ‘Holes’ (based on the Louis Sachar novel), Grade 5s undertook a hike to the Kamberg Rock Art Centre and a trip to Gwahumbe, Grade 4s celebrated their Pancake Day, Grade 6 presented their Drama showcase, and the Junior Primary outdid themselves in their ‘What’s the Crime, Mr Wolf?’ production… how could ten weeks have flown by in a heartbeat?

Another interesting development for the school has come in the shape of the Cognitive Enrichment Advantage implementation throughout the school. Children are being taught such skills as self-regulation, sharing behaviour, and the importance of exploration, adding another dimension to their personal growth. The positive shift as they apply their newfound skills is noticeable on campus.

It is, perhaps, fitting to close with an observation shared by one of our ‘old’ Old Boys, an avid flyfisherman, incidentally. He made the comment that Clifton children become ‘rooted’, or ‘grounded’ at our school. He felt it was this ‘groundedness’ that may provide some of the Clifton magic, and its peace, giving its children a sense of belonging.

They are grounded by things that we don’t often speak of, or even acknowledge, but are things that have seen many more sunrises at Clifton than any of us will. The old stone walls, constructed over a century ago, and the wise, old trees gazing down on us. And over and above this all is Clifton’s heartbeat, the sounds of happiness…